Watch movement having totalizers

ABSTRACT

A watch movement operating regular time indicators and two totalizers mounted coaxially to the center of the watch capable of being returned to a zero position.

United States Patent Fluck July 1 l, 1972 [54] WATCH MOVEMENT HAVING TOTALIZERS [56] References Chad [72] Inventor: Jose! Huck, Grenchen, Switzerland FOREIGN 'I'E QR ppuc 'no s 1 Assisneei A $61M M Grenchen (Canton of 358,058 l0/l93l Great Britain ..ss/14 Soleune Switzerland [22] Filed: Jun: 28, 1971 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. [21] Appl 57389 Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher [30] Foreign Applmflun Priority Data [57] ABSTRACI July 2, 1970 Switzeriand I0046/70 A watch movement opa-ating regular time indicators and two totalizcrs mounted comdally to the center of the watch capa- [52] Cl. ..58/74 ble ofking returned a zero position [5 1 1 Int. Cl. .1304! 7/04 [58] Fleldolsurch ..$8/74-79 IOChlnnADr-nwlngflguu P'A'TENTEmuL 11 m2 3.675.4153

' SHEET 10$ 4 WATCH MOVEMENT HAVING TOTAIJZERS The present invention relates to a watch movement which includes, besides the elements which indicate hours and minutes by means of a permanent drive arrangement, at least two totalizers and a drive and control mechanism therefor whereby they may be connected to the movement so as to be driven by it or they may be disconnected from the movement or returned to a zero position, said totalizers and indicators being coaxial.

Watch movements of this kind are already known in which each one of the totalizers has a cog wheel mounted to the center of the movement. These cog wheels are of the same diameter. Each one of these wheels is connected to a barrel of the watch which passes through the central opening of the dial and which has a totalizing hand which moves above the dial opposite the turn of the hours. In these known watches, the totalizers count the minutes and the hours, respectively. The control mechanism is composed of a second pair of cog wheels which are always in contact with one of said cogs and which carry the hearts" for return to zero which are activated by a lever for return to zero.

These known watch movements constitute, in effect, groups which should be considered as the superposition of a chronograph mechanism and a watch movement. The control and engaging mechanism has a large number of pieces, so that the movement as a whole is complicated and rather large in size.

The purpose of the present invention is to create a watch movement of the kind mentioned above which has a control and engaging mechanism which is more simple than those of the movements which have been known up to this time, which has a small number of pieces and is smaller in size, particularly in the center of the movement.

With this in mind the watch movement according to the invention is characterized in that these totalizers contain cogs of different diameter equipped with cores for return to zero each one of which is connected to one of said elements (totalizers), the cog of greatest diameter of the first totalizer being connected to the spring drum by a watch train partially mounted on a lever.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, a type of design of the watch movement according to the invention, wherein:

FIG. I is a top view of the dial of the movement;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line II-ll of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the movement taken after the dial has been removed and the totalizers taken out;

FIG. 4 is a top view taken after the dial has been removed and the movement totalizers have been partially taken out.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the visible side of the watch. The dial 1 has two long windows 2 and 3 extending in an arc of a circle concentrically to the axis of the hands, 4, 5 and 6. The window 2 extends on both sides of noon immediately inside of the hour indications 7, whereas the window 3, with a smaller opening, extends in the opposite direction, that is to say on both sides of 6 o'clock and in the immediate vicinity of the axis of the hands. The first of the two totalizers 8 and 9, which are visible in these windows and which are described in greater detail in what follows, has a peripheral scale 10 which corresponds to the 60 minutes of the hours and the other one has the figures for the hours, 11, from 1" to 12. Index marks 12 and II! are marked on the dial at the center of the windows 8 and 9. As will be seen from what follows, when the totalizers are engaged the indicators 8 and 9 turn past the index marks 12 and 13 thus indicating at all times the time which has elapsed. This time is given in hours and in minutes, but it is quite obvious that in other forms of design one could also give this indication in minutes and seconds. Furthermore, although the indicator 9 has numbers from I to l2 and is controlled in such a way as to carry out a revolution in l2 hours when the mechanism is engaged it is quite clear that one could also have an element for indicating hours which makes a revolution in 24 hours and which has numbers from I to 24.

As we shall see further on, in the form of design which is described the totalizer of the hours and of the minutes have a dragging movement, that is to say that as soon as they are engaged they turn continuously. In other forms of design, however, one or the other of these indicators totalizers) and more particularly the hour totalizer could also be activated by jumps. The changes which would have to be made in the mechanism to achieve this jump drive will be indicated further on.

The watch which is shown in the drawing does not include an indicator for the days of the month. However, the total izer mechanism could also, if necessary, be built into a calendar watch. In this case the dial could be equipped with a window for the date of the month situated for example at the site of one of the hour indications. Among the other variations of presentation of the watch described which are possible, we could also mention the arrangement which consists in placing the window of the hour totalizer immediately inside of the window 2. This arrangement would make it possible to use the same totalizers, transferring not included, as in the type of design the mechanism of which will now be described, referring more precisely to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, we see the general form of the movement 14 which is topped by the dial 1 equipped with the windows 2 and 3. The central second shaft 15, the barrel of the element 16 and the shafi of the hours wheel 17 carry the hands for the seconds, the minutes and the hours, respectively. The frictionmounted element on the shah of the great mean" (not shown) drives the minute wheel IS the pinion of which is in contact with the hours wheel 17. The latter has a long barrel which is connected to the clutch I9 which can turn freely independently of the hours wheel. At its upper extremity this clutch 19 carries the hour totalizer 9 which is composed of a flat disc extending immediately below the dial with its periphery extending to the outside limit of the window 3. At its lower extremity, the clutch l9 carries a wheel 20 of the same diameter and of the same modulus as the hour wheel 17. These two wheels are positioned immediately one above the other. The foil 2! which is secured by the elastic ring 22 presses the assembly of the disc 9, of the clutch I9 and of the wheel 20 against the hour wheel avoiding any axial contact. Since the lower extremity of the clutch 19 extends slightly protruding with respect to the wheel 20, the latter is slightly separated from the hour wheel thus preventing any rubbing between these two elements. The clutch I9 is made in a single piece with a flat side part 23 which extends above the wheel 20 and which has the shape of a heart, as is shown in F IG. 3. This heart permits the return to zero of the totalizer 9, as will be seen further on.

Between the heart 23 and the indicator 9, the clutch 19 has a cylindrical extent upon which is mounted an element 24 the outside shape of which is of exactly the same dimensions and the same shape as the element 23 and which has around its central opening an annular ribbing onto which the disc 8 is driven which constitutes the minutes totalizer. At its lower edge the heart 24 also has a ribbing which provides for the presence of a slight play between the two hearts. The adjustment of the central opening of the heart 24 on the central area of the clutch 19 is also a free adjustment so that the indicator disc 8 can turn independently of the indicator disc 9.

The disc 8 extends therefore in its central part under the disc 9 but it presents, according to a circle having the diameter of this disc, a sheathing which brings its peripheral part to the same height as the element 9, that is to say directly below the dial. Thus the peripheral part of the disc 8 which has the minute indications 10 appears immediately below the opening of the window 2. Furthermore, there is a cogged rim 25 under this raised part of the disc 8. The cogged rim rests on a circular ribbing 26 located in the upper part of the cover plate 277 This element is therefore supported at its periphery but can still turn about its axis.

When the totalizer mechanism of the watch as described is in the engaged position, the two discs are set into rotation by the movement.

The activating of the disc indicating the minutes 8 is done by the periphery of the movement. For this purpose the movement has an additional moving drive part 28 the pinion of which is in direct contact with the ribbing of the cylinder drum 29. This additional moving body pivots between the plate and a bridge 30 which can be, for example, the cylinder bridge. The moving body 28 has at one extremity of its shaft a wheel 31 which is housed in a hollow place inside of the cover plate and which, for activating the disc 8, is put into contact with the wheel of a transmission moving body 32 having a pinion and a wheel and mounted on a lever 33. it suffices to appropriately select the relationships of transmission between the gearing of the cylinder 29 and the moving body 28, on the one hand, and between the wheel 31 and the moving body 32, on the other hand, in order, when the moving body 32 is brought into contact simultaneously with the wheel 31 and the rim 25, the latter is driven at the speed of one turn per hour. it has been noted that the achievement of appropriate relationships to obtain these results did not present any difficulty in a watch movement of the usual caliber.

A simple return 34 is used, in the form of design described, for activating the hours totalizer 9, that is to say the clutch l9 and consequently the wheel 20. This return is shown in FIG. 2 with broken lines. This return (gear) which is held by a lever 35 is of a height such that it can simultaneously come into contact with the wheel 17 and the wheel 20. In order to bring about the activation of the element 9 it suffices therefore to move the lever 35 in order to bring the return 34 into contact with the two cogs which are to be connected. This return simply brings about a coupling between the wheels 17 and 20.

However, if it is desired to bring about an activating by jump of one of the totalizers, for example, the hours totalizer then it is only necessary to replace the return 34 by an intermittent drive mechanism and replace the wheel 20 by a star with 12 or 24 cogs. The intermittent drive mechanism would then be mounted on the lever 35 and could include the necessary elements to gradually accumlate, for example, in a spring, the power which is necessary to make the element 9 jump by one step and to release this power at the desired instant in order to make the star of the totalizer advance by an angle corresponding to l hour.

The levers 33 and 35, as well as the moving body 32 and the return 34, are also visible in FIG. 3 where they are represented by solid lines in the engaged position. In this figure the rim 25 is shown by broken lines and we can see that the cogs of the pinion of the moving body 32 is in contact with it whereas the cog of the wheel of this moving body is in contact with the wheel 31 of the additional moving body 28. The lever 33 pivots on a stud 36 which is secured in the plate. [ts extremity opposite the moving body 32 is pulled by a spring 37 which continuously tends to separate the lever from the rim 25. In order to bring about the engaging and disengaging and the return to zero of the totalizer mechanism the described watch movement has a control lever 38 which is held against the inside of the coverplate by a lug 39 driven into that piece. This lever 38 has three arms 38a, 38b and 380. It is cut with a small tongue 40 which is folded up in a right angle and which is located in the vicinity of the lug 39 at the periphery of the movement so as to be opposite the side of the case. The latter is equipped with a pusher making it possible to push on the small tongue 40 in the direction of the arrow A (FIG. 3) and then making the lever 38 pivot in the hour direction starting from the position shown by solid lines. The arm 38a of the lever extends opposite a lug which is located at the end of the lever 33 beyond the pinion 32. The arm 38b which extends opposite the arm 38:: works together with a spring 41 which tends to make the lever 38 pivot in the direction opposite to the direction of the movement imparted by the pusher. This spring acts therefore because of the connection between the am 380 and the lever 38c in the opposite direction of the spring 37. Lastly, the arm 38c constitutes a hammer the edge of which has a greater thickness than the central part. When the lever 38 goes from the position shown by solid lines to that shown by broken lines this hammer rests against the periphery of the two hearts 23 and 24 thus bringing the two totalizers into the zero position or the stop position which is the position shown by broken lines. When the pusher is pressed not only does the hammer 38c bring the hearts 23 and 24 to zero but, since the arm 38a moves towards the periphery of the movement, the lever 33 is no longer subjected to the action of the spring 37 so that it pivots in the counter-clockwise direction and the moving body 32 moves away from the wheel 31.

By the same movement the coupling between the wheels 17 and 20 is also released and the lever 35 presses from the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 3 to the position shown by broken lines. This operation is achieved by means of the element 42 which is a rotating cam mounted about a lug 43 and which normally carries out an angular movement working together, on the one hand, with the hammer 38c and, on the other hand, with the arm 35a of the lever 35. This arm is situated on the same side of the pivoting point 44 of this lever as the arm 35b which has the return 34 at its end. It is therefore situated opposite of the arm 350 which is acted upon by the spring 45 which tends to cause the lever 35 to pivot in the counter clockwise direction and consequently brings the return 34 into contact with the wheels 17 and 20. The cam 43 has two notches 42a and 42 b at its periphery. When the hammer 38c carries out the movement mentioned previously, during the stopping and return to zero of the totalizer mechanism its extremity passes into the notch 42a and rests against the side of this notch causing the cam to rotate to the position represented by broken lines in FIG. 3. During the course of this rotation, the rear side of the notch 42!: moves the cam following stud 35d on arm 35a and consequently causes the lever 35 to pivot in the hour direction against the action of the spring 45, thus separating the return 34 from the cogs of the wheels 17 and 20.

Therefore, once the totalizer has been started, the elements described above assure the stopping of the totalizer and its return to zero by a single movement of the lever 38 under the action of the pusher working in conjunction with this lever. The position represented by the broken lines in FIG. 3 is therefore the normal position when the totalizer is not being used. The pusher is then pushed inside.

Various means can be provided to engage the mechanism. Thus, for example, the pusher can be provided in such a way that it can be moved towards the outside. This pusher will work together in conjunction with a spring mechanism which assures these two positions. When it is pulled outwards the lever 38 is released which, under the action of its spring 4] which is stronger than the spring 37, shifts the lever 38 and the scale levers 33 and 35. The lever 33 is driven against the action of the spring 37 and in the hour direction, carrying out the engaging of the minutes totalizer element. Pivoting of the lever 38 under the effect of the spring 41 separates the hammer from the hearts 23 and 24. The extremity of the hammer catches the edge of the notch 42a of the cam 42 and makes it pivot in the hour direction so that the lug 35d can enter the notch 42b which brings the lever 35 into its position as shown by broken lines. The engaging and disengaging positions are therefore controlled by the same pusher. The two extreme positions of the lever 35 are determined by the stud 46 which moves into the opening 47 provided in the plate and the positions of the lever 33 are determined by the stud 56 situated at its extremity opposite the moving body 32 and by the opening 57 (H6. 4).

The mechanism shown in FIG. 3 also has the lever 48 which pivots on the stud 49 and which extends along the periphery of the movement at a level which is slightly lower than that ol' the hammer 38. This lever has a lowered small tongue 50 which is situated, as the small tongue 40, at the periphery of the movement and at its extremity opposite the pivot 49 there is a stud 51 which extends on the side of the arm 38: of the lever 38.

The movement which is equipped with the lever 48 has the advantage that the control pusher can be placed at will along side 4 o'clock or alongside 8 o'clock with respect to the stem winder oriented at 3 o'clock. It is therefore possible to vary the presentation of the watch. In efiect, we can see in FIG. 3 that to bring about the stopping and return to zero of the totalizers we can use either the pusher which acts according to the arrow A on the small tongue 40 or the pusher which acts according to the arrow B on the small tongue 50 of the lever 48. The action of the pusher in the last case causes the pivoting of the lever 48 in the counterclockwise (anti-hour) direction so that the lever 38 is engaged and the other elements of the mechanism follow the movement of the lever 38 as has been described.

FIG. 4 shows another possible variation for the engaging and disengaging mechanism. This mechanism is controlled by the stem winder which makes possible the two engaging and disengaging movements of the totalizer mechanism. In this form of design the lever scale 33 and the lever 38, as well as the lever scale 35 and the cam 42, which were not represented, are arranged as in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the lever 48 is eliminated and the case does not have any pusher. In addition, the stem winder which works together with the drawer 52, is activated so that it can be brought into a third position by pressure exerted on the rim from the winding up position. The drawer spring can have a third notch providing this third position. However, in this form of design an arm 53 is provided between the lever scale 33, the lever 38 and the drawer 52, said arm pivoting at one of its extremities, for example, about a screw 54 (FIG. 4). This arm passes in front of the drawer plug 52a between the stud 55 secured approximately at the middle of the arm 38b of the lever 38 and the small tongue 40. The other elements of this mechanism are similar to those which are shown in FIG. 3. We note that when we press in the direction of the arrow C on the winder stem the movement of the drawer causes the lever 53 to rotate in the clockwise direction so that the lever 38 is pulled as if it has been acted upon directly according to the arrow A of FIG. 3. The lever 38 pivots in the clockwise direction bringing the hearts to zero and engaging the totalizers. A reverse movement imparted to the stem causes a shift of the drawer and a pivoting of the lever 38 in the counter clockwise direction under the action of the spring 41 which, also in this case, must be stronger than the spring 37.

What is claimed is:

l. A watch movement having means for continuously indicating two different units of measure of time, said movement additionally comprising,

at least two totalizers which are rotatably mounted coaxially with said indicating means,

means for driving said totalizers,

means for disconnecting said totalizers from said driving means and for indexing said totalizers to a zero position,

a pair of cogs of different diameters, each of which is respectively connected to one of at least two heartshaped members, which heart-shaped members comprise at least a portion of said indexing means, the cog of greater diameter being connected to a first totalizer, and

a cylinder drum associated with means for driving said watch movement, said cog of greater diameter adapted to be operatively engaged with said cylinder drum through a watch train, a portion of which is mounted on a first lever arm.

2. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said watch train comprises two moving bodies, a pinion of the first one of said moving bodies being in contact with said cylinder drum, and a pinion of the second one of said moving bodies being connected with the cog of greater diameter which is connected to the first totalizer.

3. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving said totalizers comprises means for driving the first totalizer at a speed of about one revolution per hour and for driving the second totalizer at a speed selected from the group consisting of one revolution in 12 hours, and one revolution in 24 hours.

4. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein the totalizers comprise circular lates of different diameter located under the watch dla, said dial having windows therein, and said totalizers having digital indications which ap pear through the windows in said dial.

5. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein the first totalizer comprises a circular disc plate, a central portion extending below said second totalizer, a periphery of said second portion raised to extend to the same height as said second totalizer, and a cog rim connected to and located below said raised periphery.

6. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said means for continuously indicating different units of measure of time comprises an hours wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with the totalizers, and the second of said pair of cogs is connected to the second totalizer and is of the same diameter as the hours wheel, and

the driving means and the connecting and indexing means,

include a return means which moves between a release position and a drive position in which it simultaneously engages the hours wheel and the cog of the second totalizer.

7. A watch movement according to claim 6, wherein said return means is mounted on a second lever arm and said first lever arm and said second lever arm are controlled by an engagement lever.

8. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said second lever arm and said engagement lever are operatively connected through a camming wheel which is rotatably mounted at a fixed position within the watch movement for rotation between two positions corresponding, respectively, to engagement and disengagement of the return means with the cog of the second totalizer.

9. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said second lever arm is activated by a plunger means radially mounted at the periphery of the watch movement.

10. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said second lever arm is activated by the winder stem, which is radially mounted at the periphery of the watch movement.

It: a r r e 

1. A watch movement having means for continuously indicating two different units of measure of time, said movement additionally comprising, at least two totalizers which are rotatably mounted coaxially with said indicating means, means for driving said totalizers, means for disconnecting said totalizers from said driving means and for indexing said totalizers to a zero position, a pair of cogs of different diameters, each of which is respectively connected to one of at least two heart-shaped members, which heart-shaped members comprise at least a portion of said indexing means, the cog of greater diameter being connected to a first totalizer, and a cylinder drum associated with means for driving said watch movement, said cog of greater diameter adapted to be operatively engaged with said cylinder drum through a watch train, a portion of which is mounted on a first lever arm.
 2. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said watch train comprises two moving bodies, a pinion of the first one of said moving bodies being in contact with said cylinder drum, and a pinion of the second one of said moving bodies being connected with the cog of greater diameter which is connected to the first totalizer.
 3. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving said totalizers comprises means for driving the first totalizer at a speed of about one revolution per hour and for driving the second totalizer at a speed selected from the group consisting of one revolution in 12 hours, and one revolution in 24 hours.
 4. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein the totalizers comprise circular plates of different diameter located under the watch dial, said dial having windows therein, and said totalizers having digital indications which appear through the windows in said dial.
 5. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein the first totalizer comprises a circular disc plate, a central portion extending below said second totalizer, a periphery of said second portion raised to extend to the same height as said second totalizer, and a cog rim connected to and located below said raised periphery.
 6. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said means for continuously indicating different units of measure of time comprises an hours wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with the totalizers, and the second of said pair of cogs is connected to the second totalizer and is of the same diameter as the hours wheel, and the driving means and the connecting and indexing means, include a return means which moves between a release position and a drive position in which it simultaneously engages the hours wheel and the cog of the second totalizer.
 7. A watch movement according to claim 6, wherein said return means is mounted on a second lever arm and said first lever arm and said second lever arm are controlled by an engagement lever.
 8. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said second lever arm and said engagement lever are operatively connected through a camming wheel which is rotatably mounted at a fixed position within the watch movement for rotation between two positions corresponding, respectively, to engagement and disengagement of the return means with the cog of the second totalizer.
 9. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said second lever arm is activated by a plunger means radially mounted at the periphery of the watch movement.
 10. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein said secOnd lever arm is activated by the winder stem, which is radially mounted at the periphery of the watch movement. 